Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Tea Description:
As difficult as you might imagine it would be to replicate a Pan-galactic Gargle Blaster here on Earth, particularly since the only ingredient we could obtain here would be the olive, it is an even MORE difficult task to create a non-alcoholic tea inspired by the drink. BUT I think we have succeeded in creating something awesome. Here’s our awesome premium black tea base blended with organic lemon-, brandy-, bourbon-, sherry- and red hot cinnamon flavors, cinnamon chips, lemon balm, lemon myrtle, lemon verbena, lemongrass, some chili pepper flakes and a TEENY touch of cayenne pepper to give it that little extra bit of BITE. Instead of an olive we added a tiny touch of organic maraschino cherry flavor for sweetness. I’m sure my creation can’t hold a candle to the awesome concoction from the fertile imagination of Douglas Adams, but I’m pretty sure it will put a smile on your face anyway, and now you can offer your guests a cuppa PGB.
Learn more about this blend here.
Taster’s Review:
OK, I can’t tell you how excited I was to learn that 52Teas’ tea of the week was this PGB which – for those of you unfamiliar with the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – stands for Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster. It’s one of my favorite movies.
I still haven’t read the book. I have the book, but I just haven’t taken the time to read it yet. I plan to do that soon. As in eventually.
At the same time, I was a little afraid of the tea. I mean … I wasn’t quite sure I was ready to have my brains smashed in by a slice of lemon that’s been wrapped around a large gold brick. As amazing as that sounds, I just thought that might be something that’s a little like skydiving: it sounds fun. But jumping out of an airplane doesn’t sound like something I should do.
But I decided to summon up the courage and brew some of this tea and try it. Even if it meant that I would soon feel as though I had my brains smashed in a brick of gold that’s been wrapped in lemon.
At first the tea starts out rather mellow. But after about three sips, I start to pick up on FLAVOR. A lot of it! I taste cinnamon and notes of citrus, a hint of chili pepper. It’s sweet and spicy and fruity. The description states that there are flavors of brandy, bourbon and sherry in this, and I’m having difficulty discerning specific alcohol flavors in this. This could be that I’m either not very good at determining alcohol flavors because I’m a tea-totaler, or it could be that these alcohol notes meld into the background, behind the stronger flavors of black tea, cinnamon, citrus and zesty pepper.
I REALLY like this concoction. It’s different from any tea that I’ve tried before but it’s also similar enough to things that I’ve tried in the past that it doesn’t taste weird to the point of being off-putting. It’s a good weird. Kind of like 52Teas.
As I continue to sip, I’m picking up on a delicate sweetness from maraschino cherry. It’s a really nice contrast to the low and slow burn that I’m getting from the red hot cinnamon/natural cinnamon and cayenne and chili pepper.
The spice is the best part of this because it’s not TOO spicy. This isn’t one of those hot-cha-cha kind of spicy teas that becomes too difficult to drink because the spice is overwhelming. It isn’t sending me to the kitchen for a drink of ice water to cool the mouth. I’m not in need of a bite of yogurt to tame the zesty flavors that are dancing around in my mouth right now. It all works together very well. It’s warm and it’s – as I said before – a low and slow kind of burn in the back of the mouth and toward the back of the throat.
This is the kind of drink that I’m going to want to turn to when autumn arrives and there’s a cool crispness to the air. It’s just warm enough to give me that all-over sort of warm feeling that I would get if I just drank a shot of whiskey but without the flavor of whiskey in my mouth. That’s a big bonus for this tea-totaler.
I really like this. It’s definitely a suitable tribute to one of my all-time favorite movies.
Just Tulsi with a Twist from Just.Organic.Tea
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Tulsi
Where to Buy: Just.Organic.Tea
Tisane Description:
Tulsi, Lemon Myrtle, Ginger, Peppermint, Cinnamon & Pepper
Learn more about Just.Organic.Tea’s stance on Social Responsibility here.
Taster’s Review:
Just Tulsi with a Twist is a blend that isn’t currently available on the Just.Organic.Tea.’s website, but I really like this company, and since they did send me this sample, I figured I’d try it and tell you what I think about it.
Here’s why I like this company: I like that they are a company that isn’t just “talking” about making this planet a better place for us and for future generations, they’re doing something about it and their products prove that. They strive toward selecting organic and sustainable products, and they choose those products that are Fair Trade certified. Sure, it’s easy to find products that are less expensive, but, I like that this is a company that won’t compromise like that. I appreciate that.
And I’m really enjoying this Tulsi blend! It’s sweet, lemon-y, and with just enough of a warm spice kick to keep the taste buds happy. I’m a little surprised that I’m not tasting more from the peppermint than I am, usually, peppermint is a very assertive flavor. But the blenders at Just.Organic.Tea. have blended this in such a way that it has a gentle minty note that plays well with the other flavors in this blend.
I like that I’m tasting each component in this blend. I taste the basil-like notes of the tulsi. The slight “minty” note of the tulsi is accentuated my the soft peppermint-y flavors. It tastes herbaceous but not overly so. I can taste the cinnamon and the ginger and the pepper, and these give the cup a pleasing, soothing warmth.
What I taste most is the Lemon Myrtle, and it gives a really lovely lemon-y note without the pucker. It’s like that sweet-tart lemon flavor you’d find in a lemon curd.
A really nice blend from Just.Organic.Tea. I hope that this will eventually return to their collection of teas that they offer, because it’s one that I think that many tea drinkers would enjoy. It’s a tasty caffeine-free alternative, especially nice after dinner. I found it to have a calming effect on the tummy after a meal … bonus!
Lemon Aid Herbal Tisane from The Rabbit Hole
Tisane Information:
Leaf Type: Herbal Tisane
Where to Buy: The Rabbit Hole
Tisane Description:
The marriage of lemon and ginger, need we say more? Great hot with a dash of honey but equally at home with a few ice cubes to chill it down.
Learn more about this tisane here.
Taster’s Review:
Nice! This Lemon Aid Herbal Tisane from The Rabbit Hole is really refreshing! There is a really nice balance between the ginger and the citrus-y tones here, the ginger is not overpowering … it doesn’t have that high-powered pepper kick to it. Instead, it is warm and soothing and it complements the citrus flavors of the tisane.
Like the ginger, I am finding the lemon-y notes to be somewhat subdued, but, it has a really lovely, sweet lemon taste rather than a pucker-y lemon flavor. There is, of course, some tart and tangy notes to the lemon and these are most noticeable in the aftertaste where I feel a little tingle on my tongue. The aftertaste also offers some of the peppery tones of the ginger … but it is still quite subtle. It’s very pleasant.
I drank this hot, since the weather is still so cold outside, and I found it to be very comforting and cozy to drink hot, but as it cooled, I found it to be very refreshing, like lemonade. I did notice that some of the flavors tapered slightly as it cooled, so I would recommend brewing it strong if you’re making iced tea with this.
This is the kind of tea that you want to keep on hand for the times when you might be feeling a bit under the weather, because it’s so soothing to the throat. I am not feeling under the weather at the moment, but, I did notice how nice it felt on my throat, regardless!
A very nice tisane!
Lady Luck from WhiteAugust Tea Company
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Pouchong
Where to Buy: WhiteAugust Tea Company
Product Description:
Purely seductive. Pouchong oolong, lemon myrtle, marigolds and just a touch of vanilla, give rise to this smooth slightly creamy liquor.
Taster’s Review:
While brewing this tea, I couldn’t help but notice the aroma. The vanilla scent is really quite powerful. It smells so sweet and delicious.
But, I am glad that the vanilla doesn’t present as strong a flavor as it does a fragrance in this blend. Don’t get me wrong, the vanilla flavor IS there, but, it doesn’t overwhelm the cup. It is delicate enough to allow the nuances of the Pouchong to express themselves.
The vanilla tones are sweet and creamy, and they seem to unite seamlessly with the soft, velvet-y flavor of the Pouchong. There is just a hint of citrus-y flavor from the lemon myrtle – much less than I was expecting. That’s not to say it should be stronger … it is what it is … but, I guess when I read the description I was expecting a more prominent citrus tone. As it is, though, I think that the subtle hints of citrus in this cup are very pleasant, providing a nice contrast to the sweetness of the vanilla and Pouchong.
Overall, I find this to be a very smooth-tasting tea. There is very little astringency and no bitterness to it. It is a delicate tea; it is not too heavy or overbearing. It is a nice choice for later in the day, but it’s also sweet enough to be a dessert-type tea as well.